“From the priests:

Jedaiah son of Joiarib; Jakin; and Seraiah son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, the supervisor of the Temple of God.” 

Nehemiah 11:10-11

So far in our list of leaders staying in Jerusalem, we have seen the tribe of Judah and Benjamin. Today we dive into the priests who remained and inhabited the capital city.

First we have Jedaiah, whose name means “Yah has known,” from Yah and yada – personal knowledge, know intimately, know for certain, well aware, clearly understand, experience, surely teach, bring forth, chosen.

I simply love that knowing in God’s Word is never just head knowledge. It always includes intimacy, experience, time with someone. Or Someone. The more we walk with Him, the more we surely know His character, ways, and leading. But what I adore in this name’s implication is how it is Yahweh Who has known. Or as my students would say, “He’s been knowing.” As in, he knew way back when, He knows now, and He knows what’s ahead. All the way to eternity.

And not just dispassionate, logic-only knowing, but an incarnational Personal experience – of humanity, each of our lives, the pain to redeem, and the joyful future. That we, too, would be well aware of this tender God and His movement in our generation.

Jedaiah’s father is Joiarib, a name we just saw in Nehemiah 11:5 which means “the LORD contends,” from Yhvh and rib (to strive, contend, judge, argue, complain, plead, quarrel, reprimand). Some of those definitions are palatable and seem expected of God: judge and reprimand, for starters. But to picture quarreling or striving for an Almighty is more difficult. And it actually points to His slow to anger, abounding in hesed, character that He would strive at all with we mortals.

Then I picture Him contending with evil, striving for righteousness to prevail. I must admit, I don’t imagine an all-powerful God really exerting much effort in the fight. But if the Person of the Holy Spirit can be grieved, if Jesus the God-Man can, in His distress, sweat drops of blood, and if the anger of God the Father can be kindled at sin, I’m thinking this God of ours is not divorced from His emotions. He is fully invested in His creation and its redemption. May we be on the right side of a Yah Who contends.

Next is Jakin – “He will establish” from kun – to be firm, appoint, carry, certainly confirm, make ready, firmly establish, strengthen, faithfulness, fitted. I can appreciate these definitions at the start of Holy Week. Through Scripture, watching the Man Who wept over Jerusalem, faced His accusers head on, allowed Himself to be ready for burial, and firmly followed through with His appointed death.

How about us as those choosing to follow Him and His ways? How do we carry out our appointed time on this earth during mass shootings, political polarity, racial trauma, divided believers? Are we firm without accusing, faithful minus bigotry, rooted and established in love while certainly confirming our stand for justice? Way easier to type than to live out, I get it. Jesus, help us.

Jakin’s father is not listed, so Seraiah is up next. His name means “Yah persists” from Yah and sarah – exert oneself, persevere, wrestle, have power as a prince. Indeed, He persists. That He doesn’t give up on us, give up on me, in this mess we’ve made is my main praise some days.

But I think we get to join Him in this wrestling and persevering – in prayer, in actions, stances, and causes. From a settled position of our power in Him, we can contend for others and situations without being combative, shame-mongering, or scapegoating. We can expose deeds of darkness with a trust that Light wins in the end, and everything will one day be exposed.

But this Week in particular, I’m grateful our Savior laid down those royal rights as a human. That He exerted Himself all the way to Gethsemene, willing another way, offering up that will. The power came from surrender, and darkness came before dawn in the garden.

This Week may we sit with the exertion, the wrestling, the exhaustion of His need to come and make it right. Of our lack of ability to fix it on our own. Our absolute necessity to learn to wash feet like He did and pray for others, even as they killed Him. Winter before spring, the dim before the first shimmer of daybreak.

Thank God, Yah persists.

“[From the tribe of Benjamin:]

…Their chief officer was Joel son of Zicri, who was assisted by Judah son of Hassenuah, second-in-command over the city.”

Nehemiah 11:9

Last time we saw the final descendant names of those leaders from the tribe of Benjamin who stayed in Jerusalem. Today we see these leaders’ leaders, along with their fathers’ names.

The chief officer of the Benjaminite leaders is Joel, whose name means “The LORD is God” from Yhvh and el (God, mighty, creator). I didn’t know YHVH, the proper name of the God of Israel, comes from havah, meaning “to become.”

It makes me think of how Yahweh told Moses to tell the Israelites I Am Who I Am had sent him. The self-existent One, Who has always been, has name origins in “to become.” I’m not sure what to make of that. El Elyon, Creator God Himself, did not have to go through self help or a process to become perfect. He has always been. King, eternal, immortal, First and Last, Creator and Sustainer.

And yet, how beautiful this never-becoming, always-arrived Perfect One brought forth an entire cosmos which does transform, grow, mature. Humans made in His likeness becoming increasingly like Him if cooperating; Sky and sea and rocks and wildcats, daisies and lemons, salt water and water buffalo simply displaying the pleasures of His fabulous character. Indeed, The LORD is God.

Joel’s father is listed in our verses. His name is Zicri which means “memorable.” While we haven’t seen this name yet in the Word, we have seen its root a number of times. It is from zakar – call to mind, mindful, confess, remember, keep in remembrance.

There is pain right now for so many. In my own life and those I know, I am challenged to keep in mind genuine needs, fears and desires and lay them before God. Being mindful of petitions before Him is only part of the challenge, though. The other part is calling to mind all the ways He’s been faithful in the past. Maybe you’re like me and you forget. You have to purposely remember, “No, I couldn’t see the way forward this one time, but look.” Or, “He hasn’t brought us this far to suddenly be disinterested in next steps for everyone involved.”

Our faithful God will keep on being faithful, friends. Let’s bring this to mind.

This Joel, son of Zicri, is listed as the chief officer of the leaders who stayed in our capital city. Officer is paqid – commissioner, overseer, had charge of, leader, governor. Everywhere I turn I see leadership being refined. From the top down in our nation and the Church, it seems God has set out to bring injustice to light, giving folks the opportunity to both repent and wash feet of those they oversee.

But we don’t get to just sit on the couch and observe on the news or social media. There are aspects over which we have charge of in our personal lives. Areas in which we lead, govern, and commission others with our words, decisions, choices. Otherwise we wouldn’t be made in the image of a free and ruling God.

So let’s ask Him where He is refining us. Asking myself at the same time, do we see our influence as the opportunity to serve? Are we willing to open our hands if He shines light on something which needs to change? And do we look at those under our governance – however small to our own eyes – as image bearers? Help us, Father.

Chief Joel was assissted by Judah, whose name means “celebrated, praised.” It is from yadah – to throw, cast, confess, give thanks, give praise, glorify. This word uses the Hebrew yad, which means hand, in a literal sense. As in to physically throw away or cast something, to revere or worship with extended hands, to bemoan while wringing hands.

Not always, but occasionally I will catch myself sliding my knuckles together. When I retrace my thoughts, it’s usually my version of wringing my hands. I am meditating on situations which are unclear or out of my control. The good news is, with those same hands I can simply separate and lift high in reverence. I am so, so grateful for every action that reminds me our worship is embodied, in the image of an Incarnational God.

Anything you need to cast away – either with literal hands or in your mind? As often as it comes up? Areas in which you’re wringing your hands but could just as easily outstretch them in surrender and celebration of what He will do? None of this is an excuse to downplay genuine grief or real hardship. It is simply next steps in our heart with Him.

Finally in our verse today, Assistant Judah’s father, Hassenuah, is listed. This name means “to prick, thorny.” I don’t know about you, but this conjures up only negative images. Pricking a finger for a blood draw or thorns poking as you reach in a bush or for a rose for beauty.

And yet, it’s the hard that makes the good so precious. It’s the realization that joy and sorrow will always be intertwined in this not-yet-heaven existence. It’s what makes a glorious sunset and disappointing news both pierce the heart. One with beauty, the other with groaning. And it’s what keeps us turning to a God Who is not indifferent, Who holds us through it all.

Oh, thank goodness, The LORD is God.

“From the descendants of Benjamin:

…Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah, and his followers, Gabbai and Sallai—928 men.”

Nehemiah 11:7b-8

Last time we saw the first several descendants of Benjamin, grateful for our Redeemer, our Witness. Today we journey on with the four ancestors’ names.

Kolaiah is our first descendant listed. His name means “Voice of Yah” from Yah and qol – sound, voice, blessing, crying, growl, listen, loudly, obey, proclamation, public, report, roar, scream, shout, thunder, tinkling, voice, wept, crackling, fame, “what you say,” “what my are saying,” “what I say,” witness.

So many synonyms for this word voice. And so striking – growling, roar, wept, thunder, tinkling. Words that sound like they sound. Have you felt such grief? It came out in a roar, but also a tinkling tear? Growling in anger and agony, but also weeping in loss?

Even if you may have not come to such emotional depths, we can be grateful to know our God has. God the Father burns with anger, has a voice that thunders, and roars as the Lion of Judah. God the Son knows such things with skin in the game. Weeping at the loss of friends, loss of faith, stubborn refusal to repent, desiring to bless, but having to publicly proclaim hypocrisy.

How about those phrases: what you say, what I say, what my are saying? If you’re wondering, I did not mistype that; it is not “what mine are saying.” So intriguing. Does it make you want to fill in the sentence? What my friends are saying. What my people are saying. What my denomination says. What my worldview proclaims. What leftists, right-wing, progressives, reformed, conservatives, evangelicals say.

Exhausting, isn’t it? I’m not even sure what I’m “supposed” to believe based on several factors. I just can’t keep up. Good news is we don’t have to. We can simply talk to God about situations, stay in His Word, walk in community with people who also want to do those things, and seek to love our neighbor.

As my sister pointed out in a quote she texted, “Love always starts with knowing.” Proximity matters. We can go from what I say, what my says, to listening to what others have to say. Before we loudly and publicly proclaim what we believe about a certain issue, we could actually spend time getting to know people for whom that topic is a daily reality. Not so we can check some box, but so we can know another. Learn and love another human being God loves. And allow them to teach us, let them help us.

Everyone has a witness, a perspective the Body of Christ needs. Whoever you may be thinking of, just know you are that other to someone else. We all naturally see our way as the way, but it’s only one way. Not more than one Ultimate Truth, but more than one expression of that Truth. More than one history and lived experience, ways to worship and live out a creative, multi-faceted, communal, eternal Triune God.

Next is Maaseiah, a name we have recently seen. So let’s focus on his father, Ithiel, whose name means “with me is God.” It is from el and eth – to accompany, along, among, before, beside, concerning, help, including, know, near, presence, together, toward, within.

Yes, yes, yes, to that being a name which is our reality. With me is God. I know His presence, He is within me. Before, beside, among me. Except it might have the wrong person in focus, namely me. I want God to accompany me, be beside me, along with me and my plans. When God is the center of the universe, including us in His movement. We draw near His presence and move toward His passion. We abide, He simply is.

Next up is Jeshaiah, or Isaiah, which means “salvation of Yah.” It is from Yah and yasha – to deliver, avenge, bring salvation, bring victory, help, save, victorious, to be open, wide and free, to be safe.

It’s one of my favorite descriptions of heaven, this wide open, exhilarating sense of freedom with the kind of safety Perfect Love brings. Such salvation, victory can only be of Yah. He saves and keeps on saving. He delivers and helps, frees and restores.

Because our final name is Sallai, which is the same as Sallu from last time, we will be ending with Gabbai. Both Sallai and Gabbai are listed here as Jeshaiah’s followers or brothers. This verse is the only occurrence of the name Gabbai, which comes from gab – a back, defenses, a shrine, to hollow or curve, higher place, eyebrows, nave, ring.

Did you already know what a nave is? I did not. It’s the section of a church where the people congregate, particularly the long, central hall. Makes sense with our definition of a hollow, curved, higher place.

What do you make of that definition alongside words like defenses, back, and shrine? May the Church be a place of refuge, where our eyes are lifted, but never, ever enshrines anyone or anything as an idol. May we know God is solidly for us in Christ, therefore laying down our need to be defensive.

And may our gaze forever be on a higher place.

“From the descendants of Benjamin:

…Sallu son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah…” 

Nehemiah 11:7-8

Last time we finished up the descendants of Judah, following the lineage of Maaseiah. Today we see the provincial leaders who were descendants of Benjamin that stayed in Jerusalem .

First up is Sallu, whose name comes from calah – to reject, make light of, toss aside, tread under foot, tread down, value. Don’t you find that reference to value interesting alongside throwing out and rejecting? It seems, in fact, quite the opposite.

What feelings surface when you read “reject, tread down, and toss aside?” Has that ever described your situation, your experience? If it hasn’t, praise God. And may you use your valued experience to value others.

If it is an accurate description of times in, or the majority of, your life, how I pray you know Yahweh as Defender, Husband, Maker, and Refuge. Please don’t allow any prosperity gospel convince you the God of Angel Armies is for the powerful and against the downtrodden. He sees and He acts. When His People do the opposite, it is not a reflection of Him.

Sallu’s father is Meshullam, a name we have seen on here before. It means “allied” from shalam – amends, to complete, sound, to make an end, finish, give again. That phrase “give again” gets me every time.

Weary, have your own concerns, tired of fighting? Give again. Fatigued from making amends, wanting something to be complete, finished? Give again. Uncertain your actions will matter, desiring peace and sound relationships among us all? Give again. Not in your strength, but His.

Our give-again descendant’s father is Joed, the only occurrence of this name. It means “the LORD is a witness,” from Yhvh and ed – a witness, evidence, testimony, recorder; active participle of yaad – to appoint, assemble, designate, meet together, summon, gather selves.

Oh, do you love it? Those who are appointed are the active particles of ed, giving witness, a voice to the work He’s done in our lives. We are evidence, walking around as living sacrifices, our lives a record of His activity. The good news is a recorder simply puts down what has happened, no spinning, trying to make things happen. Only pointing to the evidence of what we know: I once was this, but now I’m this.

Not only are we witnesses, but God Himself is a witness. The God Who Sees taking a record of those who honor Him. We never have to wonder if our actions matter.

Our final descendant for today is Pedaiah, a name we have seen in Nehemiah chapter 3 and 8. It means “Yah has ransomed” from Yah and padah – any means redeem, rescued, deliver.

In reading through the Pentateuch, I’ve been struck by this word redeem. Particularly when talking about who and what is to be bought back to the LORD by paying the redemption price. It means to free from captivity, release from debt. Which feels weird because these firstborn children and animals haven’t done anything yet.

I don’t think we like thinking of the need for sheep or bulls or rams to shed blood for us to have forgiveness. But it speaks to our innate need to be rescued, how we cannot save ourselves. We require someone else to pay the redemption price on our behalf.

Anything from which He has rescued you? Ways in which He has bought back something in your life that had been broken or destroyed? If that does not ring true, or if you don’t have eyes yet to see it, may we know Him by one more name: Redeemer, Whose banner over us is Love.

“[From the descendants of Judah]…

…Maaseiah…the son of Adaiah son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, a descendant of Shelah…

Nehemiah 11:5b

Last time we looked at some descendants of Maaseiah, reveling that we get to be active participles of the Ultimate Seer. Seeing and living out His Word in a broken world. Today we continue on with family names.

First up is Adaiah whose name means “Yah has ornamented himself” from Yah and adah (adorn, pass on, advance, deck self, pass by, take away, to remove, to bedeck.)

The first verse about adorning which popped into my head refers to a wedding.

I delight greatly in the Lord;
    my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation
    and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness,
as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest,
    and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Isaiah 61:10

The beauty of being adorned with garments of salvation and robes of righteousness – His righteousness. However, this is not the only reference to adorning. You know which other verse uses it? When God finally answers Job:

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:

“Brace yourself like a man;
    I will question you,
    and you shall answer me.

“Would you discredit my justice?
    Would you condemn me to justify yourself?
Do you have an arm like God’s,
    and can your voice thunder like his?
Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor,
    and clothe yourself in honor and majesty.

Job 10:6-10

A much less sweet verse, no? But when Yah bedecks Himself, it is with fearsome glory. He will take away all pride, remove our overconfident ideas of self-righteousness. Those doing injustice should tremble. Anyone trampling on the weak ought to run and hide, if they could.

“For I, the Lord, love justice;
    I hate robbery and wrongdoing…”

Isaiah 61:8a

And that’s not all. The next relative of Maaseiah is Joiarib, which means “the LORD contends.” It’s from Yhvh and rib – to strive, contend, argue, complain, dispute, quarrel, judge, plead case, reprimand, chide, lay wait, to grapple, to wrangle, to defend, debate, rebuke, strive thoroughly.

Some of those synonyms seem positive: contend, plead case, to defend. Others are too relatable in my heart: argue, complain, debate, quarrel. And still others, especially when applied to Yahweh, are pretty intense: dispute, judge, reprimand, chide, lay wait, rebuke, strive thoroughly.

When you think of the Most High in this context, what comes to mind? A petty and critical human version of God? Or a majestic, all-seeing Judge Who governs in Love? May we come to know Him as the latter, even when He is reprimanding us and striving thoroughly for His best in our lives.

The next relative is Zechariah, whose name we have recently visited in our study of Nehemiah. So let’s focus on the following relative, Shelah, whose name comes from shalah (to draw out, extract, take away, remove, to fall.) It is related to two other Hebrew words – shalal (take spoil, plunder) and nashal (to slip or drop off, draw off, clear away, cast out, loose, slip, pluck off, put off.)

What is He drawing out in your life? Anything He is telling you is better to pluck out than to continue on in disobedience? Me, too. The good news is when He draws things out, it is so He can clear it away to work in your life. He extracts to remove, like a masterful surgeon.

We soak in certain mixtures to draw out toxins. Not to wallow that they were there, but to move forward in better health. He draws off so we can put off the old self and put on the new, taking with us spoil from a war with our enemy. He never removes without also renewing. As He draws out evil amidst the Church, may we cooperate with the renewing.

And one more thing is true in this drawing out. Not only does the Spirit draw out sinful habits and systems in our individual and corporate lives, He also draws out giftings and movements and righteous anger. Sometimes it takes something big to shake us from our complacency.

When we see abuse, it can draw out a resolve to hold accountable, to restructure what is systemically broken. We we watch blatant injustice, we can wake up to our privilege and join the fight for righteousness. When we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, it can draw out worship and an experiential realization we need not fear evil.

And when we look around at the myriad ways to serve, the Spirit can activate the giftings He gave and draw us in to join His Work.

“[From the descendants of Judah]…

…Maaseiah son of Baruch, the son of Kol-Hozeh, the son of Hazaiah…”

Nehemiah 11:5a

Last time we saw the final name in the line of Athaiah, grateful part of discipleship to Him means infusing all things with His Spirt, to the Praise of God. Today we see the second line of the descendants of Judah who was to remain in Jerusalem.

The provincial leader’s name is Maaseiah, which means “Work of Yah.” We have seen this name both in Ezra and Nehemiah, and it comes from Yah and maaseh – accomplishment, vocation, workmanship, art, task, sculptured; from asah – to do; an action with a product, specifically a poem, a thing offered.

Do you like the references to art in this definition? Sculpture, poetry, workmanship, a thing offered. And how the accomplishment is a product of Yah?

Me too. I appreciate His movement in our world includes beauty for the sake of beauty. Workmanship offering our work, all a product of His Spirit in us. Anything He’s asking you to create out of overflow? Let’s cooperate with Him, then leave the results to Yah.

Maaseiah’s father is Baruch which means “blessed.” It is from barak – to kneel, abudantly bless, boast, congratulate, salute, thank, pronounce blessing; curse, blaspheme. Yeesh, a couple of those are rough. Boast, curse and blaspheme I could do without. Yet out of the same mouth we bless God and curse our neighbor, do we not? Never has this been so large scale as in our divided moment with social media amplification.

What does it look like to repent of that and embrace the rest of the definition: to kneel, abundantly bless, pronounce blessing? And to take it one step further and repair what’s been broken? Not just relational trust, but actual walls like Nehemiah. Actual institutions and business cultures, school systems and healthcare. Seems as though that blessing would mean more than words, but a doing of the Word.

Baruch’s father is Kol-Hozeh which means “Every Seer.” It comes from kol (whole, all, entirely, farthest, throughout, utter, wholehearted, altogether, every one/place/thing) and chozeh (a seer, agreement, stargazer). This is the active participle of chazah – to see, behold, gaze, gloat, prophesy, contemplate with pleasure, have vision of.

I think to our twenty-first century perspective, this idea of a seer freaks us out. We’re not sure what to do with it, and, frankly, there have been many to proclaim the title and lead people astray. Seems we should test prophesies while not quenching the work of the Spirit.

But if we’re embracing the Spirit’s work among us in our day, I think this looks like bringing together all – whole, entirely, altogether – those who follow Him. Which means a variety of cultures, expressions, experiences who seek to follow the Spirit’s lead in their lives. It means resisting that the lens through which we read Scripture is the only one, acknowledging that God’s Word is alive and those traditionally marginalized have authority to speak from its oft-marginalized perspective.

And, friends, the glory of this is a real-time life of chazah – beholding His supremacy in our culture, a vision of the Church as a beacon of light and service, gazing at the utter magnificence of His Beauty and Work in our midst. Seeing sons and daughters prophesying as His Spirit is not quenched or grieved, but allowed to work in our midst.

It makes me smile my morning reading out of Numbers was when God allows elders to assist Moses and He “take[s] some of the Spirit that is on [Moses] and put[s] it on [others].” (Numbers 11:17b) Then two men who were not called as elders to the tent, but remained in the camp with the rest of the people, had the Spirit rest on them and they prophesied in the camp (11:26).

It’s almost as if His Spirit cannot be controlled, huh? Once unleashed and allowed to lead in individual hearts and communal structures, a speaking forth of His Word is sure to follow. When Joshua gets mad at these two men prophesying, Moses rebukes him with, “Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, that the LORD would put his Spirit on them.”

Oh, reader, the brilliance of living in a time in history when that is true. When those who have told Jesus He can have utter control of their lives do have His Spirit – not just on them but inside them. We may not all have the gift of prophesy, but we can all speak forth His Word and let it guide our lives.

And, finally, the beauty of Kol-Hozeh’s father’s name listed in our verse today. It is Hazaiah which means “Yah has seen,” from Yah and that same word chazah, the only instance of this name in the Word.

Don’t you love it? That every seer is the active participle of the Ultimate Seer. A doer of what He has revealed to us from His supreme seeing. We get the joy of living out the Word while recognizing the One Who ultimately sees all – past, present, future – fully. That He alone can contemplate with pleasure the whole of history, the coming Kingdom, and the entirety of the Spirit’s work in our day.

He alone is King, the only wise King. May we bow before Him alone. For Yah has seen.

I’m joining with one of my favorite blogs today to share what’s saving my life right now. And I’ve gotta be honest: I’ve been struggling. I’m not nailing any of this at all. So if that’s you, too, welcome.

Up first for me is Essential Oils. From a peaceful scent in the morning, to one that can cover a multitude of smells at school, diffusing can be a lifesaver.

But I’m also grateful for their topical benefits. This combo below can be helpful when trying to reduce reliance on Tylenol. Along with this and these beauties, I’m seeking to cycle more eco friendly each month.

My Happy Light for those stretches when the sun won’t peek out for long.

Kitchen time. Making delicious things to delightful music is therapeutic for me.

My small group from church. Recently our son asked if we were having a Zoom call or meeting in person for group night. When I said in-person, he goes, “Oh good! You’re happier when you come back.” Point taken.

Once-a-month Book Group. I need others to become brave.

Prayer and Verse Memory, particularly this one right now.

Exercise. Always and forever. We also have our boys in swim lessons right now to fight against fatigue with remote schooling.

Cardboard boxes in the classroom. I love watching my students create and work together. Plus, plan time with colleagues to brainstorm ideas and talk through challenges. And outdoor recess!

Plants – real and fake.

Apparently, even fake ones can help boost our mood!

Keeping in touch by text. It’s the obvious choice while social distancing, and keeps me connected to my friends’ lives and needs and joys.

Anything saving your life these days – big or small? I’d love to hear!

“[From the tribe of Judah]…son of Mahalalel, of the family of Perez.”

Nehemiah 11:4c NLT

Last time we looked at the next two listed descendants of Attaiah, grateful for what Yah has promised, and how He judges anything which goes against Love. Today we see the final descendant’s name and the family from which they come.

The final name is Mahalalel, whose name means “Praise of God,” from el – God, mighty, strength and mahalel – fame, shine, celebrate, commend, give light, boast, rave, worthy of renown. This name has not been in our previous study of Ezra and Nehemiah, but I adore its implications.

What comes to mind when you think of someone or something worthy of celebrating? Worthy of fame, shining, raving? Is there anything consistently worthy of renown? Anyone who always gives light, we can boast in with steady and true dependability? Humanly speaking, I know not one.

But divinely speaking? There is One.

I am the Lord, and there is no other;
    apart from me there is no God.
I will strengthen you,
    though you have not acknowledged me,
so that from the rising of the sun
    to the place of its setting
people may know there is none besides me.
    I am the Lord, and there is no other.
I form the light and create darkness,
    I bring prosperity and create disaster;
    I, the Lord, do all these things

Isaiah 45:5-7

This Attaiah, our provincial leader settling in Jerusalem, comes from the family of Perez, who was the son of Judah and Tamar. Do you know this story? It’s straight out of a TV drama, a woman at the mercy of selfish men who rob her of children and a future.

Eventually, Tamar decides to help one man, Judah, face his hypocrisy. She disguises herself, he takes the bait, and she becomes pregnant. Just as he’s about to burn to death his former daughter-in-law for being unwed and with child, she pulls out his personal items, declaring the owner of them is the father. He ends by declaring, “She is more righteous than I…”

What a fascinating family lineage to be celebrating in our own verses. And what an interesting name for their son. Perez comes from parats – to break through, break down, destroy, employ violence, urge. Yes, it seems his parents understood these things. We do, too.

Because of His mercy, what is broken down can emerge brilliant in a break through. What has been brutalized through physical, emotional, or verbal violence, can be remade in His power. What is not of His Spirit can be destroyed at the urging of a fresh movement, new wineskins, hope.

We get to imagine brighter days, not just in eternity, but in the Kingdom that is here, now. We can embrace our promised suffering while we cling to the right to experience His joy in the thick of it. We can experience personal breakthrough as well as corporate revival. We can destroy what is evil in His sight as we work toward Shalom that all may benefit.

Nothing is beyond His mercy and everything we touch with His Spirit’s power is to be the Praise of God. Amen. Let it be.

“[From the tribe of Judah]…son of Amaraiah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of the family of Perez.”

Nehemiah 11:4b NLT

Last time we looked at two of Attaiah’s descendants and their name meanings, reveling that our strength is in Yahweh and He remembers. Today we continue on with the descendants of our first listed provincial leader making his home in Jerusalem.

First is Zechariah’s father, Amariah, whom we have seen in both Ezra 10:43 and Nehemiah 10:4 in our study. Amariah means “Yah has promised,” a significant meaning, encouraging us to ask ourselves what, indeed, Yahweh has promised His people.

Well, for starters, He has promised to never leave or forsake us. To lead us along unfamiliar paths, to be light in our darkness and to be the voice behind us saying, “This is the way, walk in it.”

He has promised when we go through the fire to not let us burn. To be the Potter as we are the clay, and to use simple clay vessels to show the all-surpassing greatness comes from Him and not from us.

He has promised we will have trouble in this world, and others will hate us, for we are not above our Teacher. We will have enemies in this life, and our job is to love and pray for them. It is guaranteed we will suffer and He will prune us as the Vine Dresser. He has promised when we suffer for a while, He Himself will restore us and make us strong, firm, and steadfast.

He has promised we can take heart, for He has overcome the world. And greater is He Who is in us than he who is in the world. The God of Angel Armies fights for His people, and the world will know we are His by how we love one another.

He has promised to make a new heaven and a new earth. That it is better for us that He is with His Father, preparing a place for us, so He might return to bring us back with Him. And to allow the Comforter and Counselor to work through us doing even greater things as His Body.

It’s enough, isn’t it? And clinging to what He has promised will help us when expectations are not met for things He never did.

Amariah is the son of Shephatiah, who is listed next in our lineage. This name has appeared in Ezra 8:8 and Nehemiah 7:9, and means “Yah has judged” from Yah and shaphat.

Synonyms for shaphat include “argue our case, defend, deliver, execute judgment, freed, plead, avenge, reason, rule, vindicate, contend, pronounce sentence.” If you’re like me, you are a fan of the ones like “argue our case, free, and vindicate.” And not so much for “execute judgment, avenge, and pronounce sentence.”

But we know a God of perfect Love must hate things opposed to love. We want a God Who executes judgment on evil, avenges His glory, and pronounces a guilty verdict on those who violate love. Our sense of justice demands it, an imperfect reflection of a God of Perfect Justice.

Oh, praise Him He took our judgment as Jehovah-Tsidkenu on the cross. But as God continues to bring forth things that violate love in our nation, and refine His Church, may we as believers hate what is evil and cling to what is good.

Yah has judged.

“[From the tribe of Judah]…son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of the family of Perez.”

Nehemiah 11:4b NLT

Last time we had a quick recap of our place in the story of Nehemiah, and saw the first of the provincial leaders named who would settle in Jerusalem – Athiah. Today we see the names of his descendants and their meanings.

First up for Athiah’s descendants is Uzziah, whose name means “my strength is Yah.” We have seen this name before in our journey of the books of Ezra and Nehemiah in Ezra 10:21. It is also the name of a king from Isaiah’s time.

What a meaning to cling to right now. If we are experiencing loss, sickness, confusion, relational challenges, and future uncertainty, the idea that our strength is in Yahweh will give us perspective. One of my favorite things about this name is its covenant implications – He has bound Himself to a covenant with us. First through the nation of Israel, then through the blood of Jesus for all who receive the invitation into a new kind of Kingdom. And the most beautiful part of such a covenant is its binding is in Him, the One of perfect character Who cannot betray His own faithfulness.

Where do you need to cling to the promise that your strength is in Yah? For me it is in a desire to listen to those used to being marginalized and then taking that information and being helpful with it rather than hurtful. And opening my mouth when I see an opportunity to pass on what I’ve learned.

How much peace it can give me in failure that my strength is in Yah. A perfect Teacher, He allows me chances to try and fail, then try again. He teaches me what to say despite my resistance. He turns my eyes to obeying Him. And, as ever, in the middle of cultural turmoil,

He will be a sure foundation of our times;

a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge.

The fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.

Our strength is in Yah.

The descendant of Uzziah listed next is Zechariah whose name means “Yah has remembered.” We have seen the name as a prophet when our exiles first returned and were rebuilding Temple.

There’s something about Yahweh remembering. It implies He forgets, which we know is not the case. But it seems to be used in the Word for both choosing not to hold against and bringing to the forefront of what He’s up to.

It is not lost on me that we are in the study of leaders of the province of our returned exiles at a time when those in leadership in my own country are dealing with a lot. To be sure, America is laughably far from the center of the world or all that God is doing, but it is the culture in which I find myself. And we have a transfer of leadership coming up this very week.

If the amount of melanin in your skin more closely reflects mine, we have experienced a very different America than those with more. And if we aren’t following people of color on social media, or reading books with their wisdom, it will be harder for us to see some of the gravity of our current times.

To be sure, our current times are not to be our main focus. We fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. But we are all being discipled about current events in one way or another: news, social media, talk radio, podcasts, conversations. May we seek how the Word can shape the way we both see and engage what God is remembering in our cultural moment.

And for those of us, like me, who prefer to not have conflict and agree to disagree, may we take courage that Yah has remembered. He sees the pain of those who have been afflicted, but even in His boundless grace, He requires confession before a moving forward in relationship.

If we in the Church genuinely desire unity, we must realize the wrongs have to first be addressed. There is no unity without confession and repentance, only insistence on keeping certain topics quiet. But the second part of our Remembering God can calm our hearts for the first.

While it is difficult to recount or bring to mind past individual and communal sins, the reason we can move forward is the promise of His character to not hold them against us. And after confession and genuine repentance, the doorway is open for healing among image bearers.

I wrote before of remembering the first time I heard confession explained using the Greek definition: homologeó – to speak the same, to agree. If to confess our sins to God means to agree with Him that they are not what is best – for us, for others, for Shalom – the heart can follow.

Indeed Yah has remembered. Not because He is spiteful but because He is merciful.